Ryan Hunter-Reay would welcome F1 great Fernando Alonso to IndyCar

Marsha Jordan |Wednesday, August 15, 2018

Massa Makes a Huge Schumacher-Alonso Comparison

"There is a time for everyone to make a change and Fernando has decided the end of this season to be his", McLaren Chief Executive Zak Brown said. I have enjoyed every single minute of those incredible seasons and I can not thank enough the people who have contributed to make them all so special. "There are still several grands prix to go this season, and I will take part in them with more commitment and passion than ever", he added.

Alonso now contesting the FIA World Endurance Championship superseason, which will run into 2019, and is expected to add an IndyCar programme to that.

The fact remains that Alonso has not won a race in five years, even in his four-year spell with Ferrari and in 2018, McLaren just haven't had the vehicle to compete.

Sign up to The Recap, our weekly email of editors' picks.

British IndyCar outfit Carlin, which joined the series this season, previously suggested McLaren had left an entry for next year too late.

Sure, Alonso would be almost two years older by the time McLaren would potentially come to IndyCar full-time in 2020, but the afore-mentioned loyalty and familiarity with the organization - even with its struggles in recent years - could prompt Alonso to be willing to stay at the altar for as long as necessary until the McLaren marriage to IndyCar is finalized.

In 2005, he won the title at the Brazilian Grand Prix with two races to spare and eventually finished 21 points in front of McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen.

He's in his fifth season driving for McLaren and had hinted on social media he had an announcement coming Tuesday. "My heart is with the team forever".

And he added in a personal video posted on Instagram: "You were not expecting me and I was not sure if I want to know you". "I've been saying it for a while, this series is the most competitive series in the world, no doubt".

Fernando Alonso's Formula One career is nearing its end.

"I know they will come back stronger and better in the future and it could be the right moment for me to be back in the series; that would make me really happy". A two-time victor at Monaco and now a Le Mans victor, Alonso only needs to win the Indy 500 to complete motorsports unofficial "Triple Crown". We respect his decision, even if we believe he is in the finest form of his career.